2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Tennessee
[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general economics students.
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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Economics Schools
Middle Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools in Tennessee. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. General Economics graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Early-career general economics graduates make about $43,575. That is a strong return on a $22,754 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Tennessee earned it the #2 place for general economics. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,650 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $46,302. Set against $21,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #3 place for general economics. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Students borrow a median of $12,424 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $77,997. That is a strong return on a $12,424 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Rhodes College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,110 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $57,814. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rhodes College admits about 50% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
